Discussion of all social, political and cultural aspects of the American Civil War battles fought in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania.
Antebellum to modern day perspective of the material culture effects of these engagements, both military and civilian. From time to time your blog host will examine other Civil War sites such as Manassas, Gettysburg, and Petersburg.
All original material copyright 2016 by John F. Cummings III

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Sunday, March 11, 2012

Along the North Anna River - Then and Now

The 20th Annual Meeting of the Civil War Fortification Study Group provided a rare opportunity for members to visit the site of one of the Civil War's rare images of entrenched soldiers during an active campaign. This was originally a Confederate fortification, known as Henagan's Redoubt, which served as a means of protecting the north shore approach to the North Anna River at the Chesterfield Bridge crossing of the Telegraph Road. This vital position was captured by Hancock's Union forces on the evening of May 23rd, 1864. The photograph below was taken by Timothy O'Sullivan on May 25th, as the armies glowered at each other. By this time the works were occupied by men of Burnside's Ninth Corps. The next day the Union army, having tired of what was essentially another stalemate similar to their experiences of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, pull out and swing to the left in their continuous effort to get closer to Richmond. The fields around Cold Harbor awaited them.

3 comments:

Thanks for posting the modern day picture of North Anna. While Frassanito in his Grant and Lee book claims that the soldiers in the 1864 picture of the 9th corps I think this up for debate and more research.There is strong evidence that the soldiers pictured in the me image you show are actually from the 7th NY Heavy Artillery, part of Tyler's 4th Div of the 2nd Corps. Robert Keating in his book Carnival of Blood which about the 7th NY Heavy Artillery cites a letter from a member of the 1st NY Light artillery that describes O'Sullivan taking the pictures. Based on this and other descriptions of the actions and position of troops on May 25th, 1864 I am more likely to believe that the men in the picture are actually part of the 2nd Corps. Great Blog.

If indeed this was taken on the 25th, both Mike Miller and Gordon Rhea's volumes on the subject indicate that the north side of the river around this set of works was occupied by Willcox's 3rd Division of the 9th Corps, while the 2nd Corps had moved entirely to the south side. The information from Albert Ames of the 1st NY Light Artillery is curious, and might suggest the photograph was taken just prior to the shift, or the date in the letter was incorrect.

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Why I am here:

I am the owner of Spotsylvania Commemorative. I conduct historical research and provide battlefield guide services. Living on the Spotsylvania battlefield has its advantages. The most important to me is that I am right on the ground that played an important but usually disregarded role in the campaign. The actions of May 14, 1864 resulted in the near capture of General George Gordon Meade while it also helped to anchor a new Federal left wing. Known as the battle of Myer's Hill, it focused on what was until recently a wooded summit, one half mile southeast from my driveway. There remains close to 75 acres of land which includes the Myer house site. In 1864 it was a 400 acre farm. I have been trying for more than ten years to influence the preservation of this property. A few years ago some of the cultural resources on the site were damaged during deforesting, including what was a beautifully preserved trenchline built by the Federal 6th Corps. Seeing an imminent threat to the house site, I personally negotiated with the logging company and minimized the damage, while the surrounding acres were clear cut. I have come to know the story of John Henry Myer and his family and the struggle for the farm site they called home. Myer, conscripted into the 40th VA Infantry, watched helpless from the Confederate trenches on May 15, 1864 as his home was destroyed by the Union occupants. It had been intended as a sanctuary from the ravages of war. Their story, and those of countless others, is my inspiration.